Equilibrium (air) door



June 7, 1966 M. GEDNEY EQUILIBRIUM (AIR) DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1964 (,%fl M ATTORNEYS June 7, 1966 L. M. GEDNEY 3,254,457

I EQUILIBRIUM (AIR) noon Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR i i 5 I i i 8 Z094 jfZ-zzvzy i J 5% BY M m M%%/ %5' ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,254,457 EQUILIBRIUM (AIR) DOOR Leigh M. Gedney, P1). Box 914, Dothan, Ala.

Filed Dec. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 420,074

7 Claims. (Cl. 522) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 287,446, filed June 12, 1963, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to air-supported and other types of portable structures constructed of a film, fabric or similar material of low air permeability and, more particularly, to an air-supported structure constructed in such a way to prevent stress concentrations in the material, to provide simple, efficient air and Water tight anchoring means and to provide improved means for ingress and egress while the inflated structure is maintained in the erected state by air pressure. 7

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an air-supported structure with ingress and egress means which assist in maintaining the structure erect in a more efficient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide an .air-

supported structure formed of a low air permeable material constructed in a manner to prevent stress concentrations in the material.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an air-supported structure having its edges secured to the ground in a manner which will substantially prevent leakage of air at said edges and which will anchor the structure to the earth, and at the same time can be installed with a relatively high degree of ease and speed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the specification hereinafter wherein the accompanying drawings are identified as follows:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inflated air-supported structure of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing a current of air being directed into the structure;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 3-'3 of FIGURE 1 showing anchoring means employed with the inflated air-supported structure;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment'of the inflated air-supported structure of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 showing series-arranged inflating means associated with the ingress and egress means of the structure.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the air-supported structure of this invention includes an air impermeable envelope which is, preferably, rectangular in plan with side walls 12, 14, 16, 18 and a roof 20. It will be recognized, however, that the shape of the structure can be altered to meet varied requirements, e.g., as housing, barracks, storage area, agricultural purposes, auditoriums and the like. Preferably, the structure is of a size such that vehicles can have easy access to the interior thereof through the ingress and egress means. As in my copending application, the structure can be spheroidal, being fabricated from a plurality of panels.

The envelope is provided with a plurality of tension spreading rings 22 which, preferably, are provided in spaced apart relationship over the roof of inflated envelope 10.

In an envelope covering a large area the total pressure existing within the envelope often exceeds that which the fabric from which the structure is made can tolerate. The tension spreading rings when placed at suitable intervals efliciently divide the total area of the envelope into a 3,254,457 Patented June 7, 1966 plurality of smaller areas, hence any given area is thus exposed to a substantially reduced pressure with the advantageous consequence of preventing an undue stress concentration on the gas impervious material.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a' tension spreading disc 22 which is provided with tie-down means 24 perpendicularly disposed from the bottom surface of the discthe disc is placed on the envelope and held with adhesive. means 24 can conveniently be attached to a screw-eye inserted through the envelope into the disc so that tie-down means 24 are disposed interiorly of the inflated structure. The tie-down means can also take the form as shown in my above-mentioned copending application and can be asso- -ciated with the various tension spreading rings shown therein. For instance, the tension spreading means can be in the shape of a ring provided with a diametrically disposed member fixedly attached to the interior peripheral surface thereof. The tie-down means can be attached intermediate the ends of the diametrically disposed member and perpendicularly disposed interiorly of the inflated Structure. Further, a double-walled envelope can be employed in which case tension spreading rings 22 can be interposed therebetween, the outside and inside. envelopes being contiguous to the top and bottom surfaces of the rings 22, respectively. This arrangement provides for an insulated air-supported structure. In this instance, tiedown means 24 can conveniently be inserted in apertures provided in the inner gas impervious envelope, again to provide tie-down means disposed interiorly of the structure.

ing provided within the structure, if desired. The tension spreading rings can, as stated be made of any suitable material such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. and the tie-down means can be a strap, wire, etc. Conveniently, when the tie-down means are straps, they can be fabricated from, for instance, heavy duck twill, plastic, etc. The tie-down means can conveniently be secured to the tension spreading means by any suitable means such as by clamps, weld-.

ing, etc. As an advantageous feature of the present invention, the tie-down means, when employed with tension spreading rings positioned on the roof 20 of the instant structure relieve considerable tension which exists at the margin of the side walls, 12, 14, 16 and 118 when they are anchored to the earth 32. This arrangement facilitates the use of inexpensive materials which have relatively low tensile characteristics.

The ingress and egress means 34 employed in combination with the instant invention advantageously permits pedestrian and vehicular traffic to move in and out of the inflated structure with ease and without collapse of the inflated building. The ingress and egress means can be of any suitable shape, i.e., round, square, rectangular, etc., the choice of form obviously depending, for instance, on a number of factors such as the use to which the structure is put. means in association with a closure member and source of air current more fully described hereinafter provide, in one embodiment, features and advantages not attained heretofore by prior art structures. Necessarily the ingress and egress means is supported about the periphery thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support means comprises a frame member 36. Movably attached to the frame member 36 is a closure member-38 which can be of any convenient form. For instance, it can be a flap, a roll or reinforced plastic or means such as a bamboo curtain, etc., pivotally attached to a cross member 40 of the frame member 36. It can also take the form of a door (not shown) pivotally attached to one or both upright members 42 and 44 of the frame member 36. The closure Tie-down These tie-down means can conveniently be secured to the ground to dead men 28, for instance, or to a floor- Thus the novel ingress and egress 3 member, whatever its form, is pivotable inwardly of the structure.

Directed into the ingress and egress means 34 is a current of air provided by a fan 46 or other conventional sources of air current to supply the gas means to inflate and maintain the structure erect. The fan. is operatively connected to a source of electricity (not shown). Two or more sources of air current can be used, utilizing a less powerful source when the closure member is in a closed position, since the envelope requires less air in such a situation to maintain it erect. A larger or more powerful source, alone or in combination with the smaller source can be used when the closure member is in an open position.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it can be seen that once the structure is inflated the closure member 38 is moved into the closed position due to the air pressure within the structure which is exerted on the internal surface of said closure member. The closure member shown in dotted line represents, generally, its position when the structure is being inflated.

Referring now, specifically, to FIGURES 4 and 5, there is provided adjacent the ingress and egress means 34 a tunnel or shield member 48 which can be secured to the frame member 36, internally or externally of the structure 10. Alternatively, it can be secured to side wall 18, internally or externally, and thus provide the support means for the ingress and egress means 34. The tunnel member conveniently is open at both ends, one end 50 of which is adjacent the support frame member 36 in the embodiment wherein the tunnel is disposed interiorly of the structure and is attached to a support frame member. A source of air current is provided to direct the current of air into the tunnel and hence into the structure to be inflated. This arrangement provides for a more eflicient use of the air currents due in part to the air turbulence created in the tunnel. While a single source of air current is adequate to inflate and maintain erect t-he inflatable structure a plurality of such air current sources can also be used. Further, it has been found that increased efliciency can be obtained when the plural air current sources are series-arranged.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which represent another embodiment of the invention, there is provided adjacent the ingress and egress means 34 within the tunnel member 48 air current source support means 52.

Inwardly disposed therefrom and, preferably, in alignment therewith is at least one addition air current source support means 54. Suitably mounted in each of said support means is at least one source of air current 56. The support means can be of any suitable material such as narrow strips of plywood, metal frames, etc. The sources of air current in each of said support means are in substantial alignment with each other so that the current of air emanating from the air current means 56 mounted in support means 52 will be additive with respect to the current of air issuing from air current means 56 mounted in support means 54. Air current means 56, conveniently, can be low horsepower-rated fans.

Preferably, as stated, the support means are housed within a tunnel member 48 disposed interiorly of the inflated structure, being open at both ends, one end 50 of which is adjacent the door frame 36. The other end 58 is in communication with the interior of the envelope 10.

The placement of the air current means in series-arrangement provides improved efliciency thereof. Thus, a series of low horsepower-rated fans generally provides a pressure substantially equal to a single fan whose horsepower is rated greater than the sum of the horsepower ratings of the fans used in series. By providing the series arranged fans in an interiorly disposed tunnel member, the pressures achievable and maintainable within the inflated envelope are substantially greater than those when the blower means are not arranged within a tunnel member. Although the exact theory of this phenomenon is not definite, it is believed that the turbulence caused by incoming air meeting outgoing air head-on contributes to this phenomenon. Equally effective results are achieved when the tunnel-member 48 is disposed exteriorly of the inflatable member with the open end 58 thereof being adjacent the ingress and egress means 34 and either attached to the frame member 36 or attached to the side wall 18 to provide support means to the ingress and egress means 34.

As shown in FIGURE 3, an anchoring and sealing arrangement for the air-supported structure is disclosed. The structure is erected on earth 6%). The structures side walls 12, 14, 16 land 18 each have a lower edge or margin portion 62 which is turned inwardly and upwardly to form a U-shaped receptacle for anchoring material 64 such as dirt or soil. This arrangement advantageously prevents the anchoring material from being exposed to the atmosphere, thus, insuring against its loss due to washing away by, for instance, rain. Additionally apertures 66 are placed in the lower portion 62 of the side walls to provide drainage of moisture collected in the anchoring material 64 which has' accumulated due to condensation of moisture on the internal surface of the inflatable structure.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An air-supported structure having ground engaging walls and roof formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of said Walls provided with ingress and egress means comprising an aperture extending from the ground engaging lower end of said one wall, said aperture having vertical and horizontal dimensions suflicient to provide for pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the periphery of said aperture provided with support means, and means for supplying a current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said structure through said ingress and egress means and to maintain such structure in an erect position.

2. An air-supported structure having ground engaging walls and roof formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of said walls provided with ingress and egress means comprising an aperture extending from the ground engaging lower end of said one wall, said aperture having vertical and horizontal dimensions sufficient to provide for pedestrian and vehicular traflic, the periphery of said aperture provided with support means, a closure member inwardly movably attached to said support means and having an internal and external surface, and means for supplying current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said structure and to maintain said structure in an erect position, said air current being directed to impinge on the external surface of said closure member.

3. An air-supported structure having walls and roof formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of said walls provided with ingress and egress means for pedestrian and vehicular traflic, said ingress and egress means provided with support means and a plurality of series-arranged means for supplying a current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said structure and to maintain said structure in an erect position.

4. An air-supported structure having walls and roof formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of i said walls provided with ingress and egress means for pedestrian and vehicular traflic, said ingress and egress means provided with support means, a tunnel member adjacent said ingress and egress means in communication with the interior of said structure, said tunnel member being open at both ends and means for supplying a current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said struc ture and to maintain said structure in an erect position,

said :air current supplying means being provided within said tunnel member.

5. An air supported structure having walls and roof formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of said walls provided with ingress and egress means for pedestrian and vehicular traffic, said ingress and egress means provided with support means about the periphery thereof, a .tunnel member adjacent said ingress and egress means in communication with the interior of said structure, said tunnel member being open at both ends and a plurality of series arranged means for supplying a current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said structure and to maintain said structure in an erect position, said air current supplying means being provided within said tunnel member.

6. An air-supported structure having walls and roof [formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of said walls provided with ingress and egress means for pedestrian and vehicular traflic, said ingress and egress means provided with support means, a tunnel member adjacent said ingress and egress means in communication with the interior of said structure, said tunnel member being open at both ends, means adhesively attached to said roof to prevent stress concentrations in said low air permeable material, each of said side walls provided with a lower margin adaptable to anchor said structure about the interior periphery thereof, said margin provided with a plurality of spacedly removed apertures to drain moisture therefrom, means for supplying a current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said structure and to maintain said structure in an erect position, said air current supplying means being provided within said tunnel member and tie-down means secured to said stress concentration prevention means disposed interiorly of said structure to relieve tension at said margins when said structure is inflated and anchored.

7. An air-supported structure having walls and roof formed of a low air permeable material, at least one of said walls provided with ingress and egress means for pedestrian and vehicular trafli'c, said ingress and egress means provided with support means, a tunnel member adjacent said ingress and egress means extending interiorly of said structure, said tunnel member being open at both ends, means contiguous to said roof to prevent stress concentrations in said low air permeable material, a plurality of series-arranged means for supplying a current of air inwardly to said structure to inflate said structure and to maintain said structure in an erect position, said air current supplying means being provided within said tunnel member and tie-down means secured .to said stress concentration prevention means disposed interiorly of said structure to relieve tension at the lower edges of said structure when inflated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,794 2/1957 White -1 2,910,994 1 1/1959 Joy 1351.1 3,024,796 3/1962 Bird 135-1 3,109,440 11/1963- Schjedahl 135-1 3,123,085 3/ 1964 Desmarteau 135-1.l

FOREIGN PATENTS 655,445 12/ 1928 France. 1,235,093 5/ 1960 France.

912,155 12/1962 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner. L. J. SANTISI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AIR-SUPPORTED STRUCTURE HAVING GROUND ENGAGING WALLS AND ROOF FORMED OF A LOW AIR PERMEABLE MATERIAL, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WALLS PROVIDED WITH INGRESS AND EGRESS MEANS COMPRISING AN APERTURE EXTENDING FROM THE GROUND ENGAGING LOWER END OF SAID ONE WALL, SAID APERTURE HAVING VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE FOR PEDESTRAIN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, THE PERIPHERY OF SAID APERTURE PROVIDED WITH SUPPORT MEANS, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A CURRENT TO AIR INWARDLY TO SAID STRUCTURE TO INFLATE SAID STRUCTURE THROUGH SAID INGRESS AND ENGRESS MEANS AND TO MAINTAIN SUCH STRUCTURES IN AN ERECT POSITION. 